A HOSPITAL could be facing a fine of £580,000 after it was forced to restrict patient admissions. East Riding Community Hospital in Beverley reduced its inpatient beds from 30 to 12 after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted a number of serious concerns during a visit in June.
Now, Humber NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, could have to fork out £145,000 for every month the beds were closed.
The trust has heard East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) plans to enforce a financial penalty for £145,000 – a total of £580,000 from June until the end of September.
However, the fine could be increased to £725,000 if the beds remain closed in October as well.
Angie Mason, the director of nursing and service delivery at Humber NHS, said: "There is a risk of a penalty from the CCG.
"Until we get the rest of the beds open, that risk will not be reduced."
East Riding CCG decides what money should be spent on health services for patients living in the region. In effect, it "employs" Humber NHS to provide care at the hospital.
If it decides Humber NHS is not giving the full service it is paid to supply, it can enforce a financial penalty.
However, no financial penalty notice has been received in writing and Humber NHS has not paid any of the money yet.
George McManus, of the Friends of East Riding Community Hospital Group said: "We are shocked to hear the hospital is being penalised financially due to the bed closures."
The news comes as staff at the hospital prepare for another CQC inspection in the next fortnight.
Inspectors will be revisiting the Beverley hospital to check if standards have been met and improvements made since they last saw staff on June 4.
Humber NHS has drawn up an action plan for the hospital in light of the report, which was discussed at yesterday's trust board meeting.
Trust board chairman Jane Fenwick said: "When I visited the hospital this week, I was very impressed with the staff and management, who have had to pick themselves up off the floor.
"Patients are delighted with the level of care they are receiving.
"We will get this right but, obviously, we have to go through the inspection.
"The proof will be in the pudding, the CQC will have to come and see it but all the signs are that it's going well.
"CQC inspections are about finding out what is wrong and putting it right, and that's what we are doing."
The CQC report, which was published earlier this summer, said there had been "six serious incidents" at the hospital.
However, the trust board were told yesterday three of those had been downgraded and only three were now rated "serious".
Ms Fenwick said: "Our staff report near-misses and serious incidents which could cause harm to patients.
"They are investigated and, then, if considered serious, reported to the clinical commissioning group. In three cases, the commissioners downgraded them.
"I have some heart with that – because at least staff are reporting incidents and looking into them.
"I don't want a situation where people don't report things and sweep them under the carpet."
The action plan for the hospital includes addressing issues raised by the CQC – such as providing additional training and drawing up rotas differently to demonstrate who the first-in-charge nurse is.
Humber NHS staff have been told CQC inspectors will visit "shortly after" October 2.